Restorative justice is a worldwide movement, which like all justice theories and practices has its good and bad days. Since its return in the 1970s, we have seen it implemented in various contexts and at different stages of the criminal process. This publication provides Case Studies on Restorative Justice.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada is reviewing the criminal justice system. The government wants to know what Canadians would like to see. This survey is one way for the Department of Justice Canada to hear back from Canadians.

This report was written by Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) 's Research Department in collaboration with the NVSP. Building on previous research (Gobeil, Barnum, Euchi, 2012), and including both registered and non-registered victims with the National Victim Service Program (NVSP) at CSC, the present study was launched to examine the characteristics of offenders who have perpetrated a crime against a child, as well as to provide information on child victims of federally sentenced offenders relating to the crimes perpetrated against them, the victimization methods used (e.g., abuse of power, weapons, threats), and the physical and psychological harm caused.

Ontario has appointed the Honourable Justice Eileen Gillese, an experienced judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal, to lead an independent public inquiry into the policies, procedures and oversight of long-term care homes.

In particular, Justice Gillese has been asked to inquire into the circumstances and systemic issues which may have contributed to the assault and death of residents who were under the care of Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a former registered nurse in long-term care homes in southwestern Ontario. The inquiry will help get answers to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.

Victims and Survivors Have Serious Strength: Learn more about how you can share your story while the questionnaire remains active.

Have you been the victim of violent crime or a family survivor of homicide? Are you over the age of 18? If so, we would like to hear from you!

In partnership with VJN, researchers at Algonquin College have launched a survey to better understand the experiences of victims and survivors. The results will be used to improve training for professionals who help victims of violent crime. Click here to learn more about how you can participate.

Justice Canada hosted a Knowledge Exchange on the criminal justice system’s responses to sexual assault against adults on March 7-8, 2017. The objective of the event was to better understand why, despite Canada’s robust criminal laws related to sexual assault, rates of reporting, prosecution, and conviction remain low. The event also explored how the criminal justice system’s responses to sexual assault could be improved. The summary of this event is now available online.

Canada’s criminal justice system is in urgent need of reform. Delays in criminal proceedings have become a significant problem as it takes too long for many criminal cases to reach a final disposition. Lengthy trials and multiple adjournments are particularly hard on victims and their families, as well as on accused persons, whose stress can be worsened as the time between the laying of charges and the end of the trial stretches out month after month. When these delays become very lengthy, courts may find that the accused’s constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time (as guaranteed by section 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) has been breached. If this happens, the only judicial remedy available in Canada is an order for a stay of proceedings, which ends the process without a completed trial on the merits of the case.

A conference for policy makers, mental health, justice and social service professionals involved in the prevention, assessment, management, and safety planning for domestic violence and domestic homicide, particularly those working with Indigenous, rural, remote, northern, immigrant and refugee populations, and children exposed to domestic violence.

Breaking the Silence A Coordinated Response to Sexual Violence in Nova Scotia has released their June 2017 update. This includes information on a free, online training that was launched in April 2017 entitled Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Nova Scotia Resource as well as other aspects of their Sexual Violence Strategy.

Disclaimer: Welcome to our Find Help listing of services that provide help for victims of crime. This listing represents only a subset of the many services and supports available to Canadians across Canada and we hope it is helpful for users of the Victim Justice Network site. For a more comprehensive listing of services helping victims through all stages of their needs, we do encourage you to avail yourselves of your local 211 phone or online services or, alternatively, of your regional community services listings most of which are included in this site under Information and Referral. The services listed on this site are based on the most recent information available on those services' individual websites in mid-2015. We will endeavour to review these annually for accuracy and any changes or discontinuation of service.